The National Aquarium in Baltimore 's Inner Harbor is redesigning its dolphin show — and its admission prices. Beginning May 4, the "timed, limited-access and separately priced [dolphin] shows" will be eliminated and replaced by all-day access to the dolphins and their trainers, according to a statement released Thursday by the aquarium. Along with the new dolphin show format, the aquarium is increasing its base admission price to $29.95 for adults and $20.95 for children.

The National Aquarium's eight dolphins are no longer a show unto themselves. After two decades of dramatic leaps and crowd-pleasing stunts, aquarium officials are eliminating the 20-minute dolphin shows in favor of a more open-ended exhibit. Beginning Friday, aquarium visitors will be able to visit the dolphin amphitheater throughout the day and interact with trainers. Instead of charging a separate admission price for the dolphin show, the aquarium is raising general admission ticket prices.

What are Baltimore's best deals and discounts? The reporters behind Consuming Interests, The Sun's consumer blog, have come up with its list of the region's best bargains, which we share with you in honor of Black Friday. Some people will mark this day by seeking out doorbuster discounts, but we think there are some amazing experiences to be had that cost no money at all. We've also included some ideas for those who enjoy a little retail therapy. Home decor: Plagued by blank walls in your home?

The National Aquarium in Baltimore 's Inner Harbor is redesigning its dolphin show — and its admission prices. Beginning May 4, the "timed, limited-access and separately priced [dolphin] shows" will be eliminated and replaced by all-day access to the dolphins and their trainers, according to a statement released Thursday by the aquarium. Along with the new dolphin show format, the aquarium is increasing its base admission price to $29.95 for adults and $20.95 for children.

Shhhhh . With two baby dolphins in the house, not only is Baltimore's National Aquarium asking visitors to keep it down, but the infants have also forced the attraction to reconfigure one of its most popular shows just as tourist season launches. With little ones to consider — to say nothing of their sensitive mothers — the usually boisterous dolphin show, known for splashing and shrieking, has turned into a quiet zone, with hushed music, fewer visitors allowed in at a time and a video documenting dolphin births substituting for most of the noisy acrobatics.

The amphitheater at the National Aquarium in Baltimore will be closed at least until mid-week so Nani, a 21-year-old dolphin, and her new calf -- born at 5:25 p.m. yesterday -- can have some quiet, get-acquainted time.The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin mother and calf appear to be all right, said Vicki Aversa, spokeswoman for the National Aquarium.Nani was in labor for about an hour, considered average for a dolphin bearing its third calf.The calf's sex will not be known for many months, said Ms. Aversa.

The National Aquarium's eight dolphins are no longer a show unto themselves. After two decades of dramatic leaps and crowd-pleasing stunts, aquarium officials are eliminating the 20-minute dolphin shows in favor of a more open-ended exhibit. Beginning Friday, aquarium visitors will be able to visit the dolphin amphitheater throughout the day and interact with trainers. Instead of charging a separate admission price for the dolphin show, the aquarium is raising general admission ticket prices.

It's time for the Ravens to introduce the Miami Dolphins to a term that they probably haven't heard this year. Road kill. The Dolphins seem to have found a comfort zone on the road, as evidenced by their 4-0 record away from home and their inexplicable inability to register a victory at Dolphins Stadium. It's a highly unusual dichotomy which needs to be corrected on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. The oddsmakers obviously aren't impressed. They've installed the Ravens as a 5 1/2-point favorite to come off their bye week and show the Dolphins what it's like to play in a truly hostile environment — and I'm not just talking about the decibel level on the field.

Animal rights defenders leapt from the stands of the Marine Mammal Pavilion in Baltimore's National Aquarium during a show yesterday afternoon to protest the holding of dolphins and whales in captivity but the disruption drew jeers and boos from the audience."

By Chris Kaltenbach and Chris Kaltenbach,chris.kaltenbach@baltsun.com | April 9, 2009

Its stars may be as frolicsome and endearing as ever, but designers of the new dolphin show at the National Aquarium in Baltimore say the idea is to do more than simply show the aquatic charmers at play. "In the old show, Play, we tried to show play as a form of learning," says Nancy Hotchkiss, the aquarium's senior director for visitor experiences. "We wanted people to see that with the dolphins, and realize that for themselves." The new show, titled Our Ocean Planet, tries for something a little more serious, she says.

Animal trainer Deirdre Weadock has worked at the National Aquarium long enough to have seen her share of life and death, but she'll tell you this has been the roughest week of her career. Losing one dolphin, then another, within days. "You can't really describe what this feels like to other people," Weadock said Sunday, her voice breaking. "I guess any parent can relate. " On Saturday night, the second of the aquarium's two calves died in the arms of the aquarium's medical workers as they tried desperately to save her. The first had been found dead in the pool on Tuesday.

It's time for the Ravens to introduce the Miami Dolphins to a term that they probably haven't heard this year. Road kill. The Dolphins seem to have found a comfort zone on the road, as evidenced by their 4-0 record away from home and their inexplicable inability to register a victory at Dolphins Stadium. It's a highly unusual dichotomy which needs to be corrected on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. The oddsmakers obviously aren't impressed. They've installed the Ravens as a 5 1/2-point favorite to come off their bye week and show the Dolphins what it's like to play in a truly hostile environment — and I'm not just talking about the decibel level on the field.

What are Baltimore's best deals and discounts? The reporters behind Consuming Interests, The Sun's consumer blog, have come up with its list of the region's best bargains, which we share with you in honor of Black Friday. Some people will mark this day by seeking out doorbuster discounts, but we think there are some amazing experiences to be had that cost no money at all. We've also included some ideas for those who enjoy a little retail therapy. Home decor: Plagued by blank walls in your home?

By Chris Kaltenbach and Chris Kaltenbach,chris.kaltenbach@baltsun.com | April 9, 2009

Its stars may be as frolicsome and endearing as ever, but designers of the new dolphin show at the National Aquarium in Baltimore say the idea is to do more than simply show the aquatic charmers at play. "In the old show, Play, we tried to show play as a form of learning," says Nancy Hotchkiss, the aquarium's senior director for visitor experiences. "We wanted people to see that with the dolphins, and realize that for themselves." The new show, titled Our Ocean Planet, tries for something a little more serious, she says.

The dolphins still leap and twist and moonwalk on water, using their flukes like feet. They still slide across platforms, as if they were dancers in "Footloose." The trainers still tell corny jokes and bop to the music as they put the world's most lovable sea creatures through their paces. And everybody still goes: "Awwwww."But as it unveiled a new dolphin show yesterday, the National Aquarium in Baltimore hoped to add substance to the splash of its most popular enduring attraction, mixing in more education with the fun.The half-hour show, called "Coastal Connections: Dolphins at Our Shore," emphasizes the habitat and habits of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.

The amphitheater at the National Aquarium in Baltimore will be closed at least until mid-week so Nani, a 21-year-old dolphin, and her new calf -- born at 5:25 p.m. yesterday -- can have some quiet, get-acquainted time.The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin mother and calf appear to be all right, said Vicki Aversa, spokeswoman for the National Aquarium.Nani was in labor for about an hour, considered average for a dolphin bearing its third calf.The calf's sex will not be known for many months, said Ms. Aversa.

The dolphins still leap and twist and moonwalk on water, using their flukes like feet. They still slide across platforms, as if they were dancers in "Footloose." The trainers still tell corny jokes and bop to the music as they put the world's most lovable sea creatures through their paces. And everybody still goes: "Awwwww."But as it unveiled a new dolphin show yesterday, the National Aquarium in Baltimore hoped to add substance to the splash of its most popular enduring attraction, mixing in more education with the fun.The half-hour show, called "Coastal Connections: Dolphins at Our Shore," emphasizes the habitat and habits of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.

Animal rights defenders leapt from the stands of the Marine Mammal Pavilion in Baltimore's National Aquarium during a show yesterday afternoon to protest the holding of dolphins and whales in captivity but the disruption drew jeers and boos from the audience."